A once-common species of butterfly has disappeared from a region of California over the past 50 years.The butterfly's gradual disappearance is correlated with a significant rise in average annual temperature and a significant decline in average annual rainfall.This suggests that the butterfly's disappearance is due to a change in
A) climate, because butterflies only react to climate, not weather.
B) climate, because the 50-year trend altered butterfly distribution.
C) weather, because 50 years is not long enough for climate to change.
D) weather, because heat and drought are weather, not climate, factors.
E) some factor other than weather or climate that has not been measured.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The butterfly's disappearance is gradually correlated with a significant rise in average annual temperature and a significant decline in average annual rainfall over the past 50 years. Changes in climate over an extended period can alter the distribution of species such as the butterfly, making choice B the best answer.

A Once-Common Species of Butterfly Has Disappeared from a Region